Hard break pedal again
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Southern SC.
Hard break pedal again
I did not drive the beast for about 5 or 6 days and took it out yeasterday as it was in the high 70’s and sunny. After about 15 miles the brake pedal started getting harder and harder to push. By the time I got it home it would barely travel an inch. All 4 wheels were hot to the touch. I’ve driven it for months with no problem now this. My question is could it just be junk in the master, a bad master or wheel cylinder or ???? How do I check it or do I just have to pull the master and see if it has junk in it? Could it be a bad seal in it? It is below the floor and not easy to get to and even more of a pain to bleed. Thanks for any help.
Dave S
Dave S
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,594
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From: North Central Arkansas
I had a diesel VW pickup a few years ago that would do that. I would have to crawl under and bleed the front brakes to get it home. It would develop surface rust in the very end of the MC bore and the piston would not retract quite all the way. Each time you used the brakes it would leave a little more fluid pressure in the lines until it locked up the brakes. It was gradual. I would take off the MC and clean it and it was good for quite awhile.
Mark
Mark
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Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Southern SC.
Scott no idea as I haven’t gotten under it to check but I do not think it does.
Mark that is what I am hoping it isn’t as it is not easy to remove and harder to put back in. It may be my only Joyce
Just thought it best to see if anyone had any other ideas.
Mark that is what I am hoping it isn’t as it is not easy to remove and harder to put back in. It may be my only Joyce
Just thought it best to see if anyone had any other ideas.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
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From: NM
Since it happened all of a sudden, check to see if the brake pedal return spring is still there and attached.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2015
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As has been said check the pushrod on the master cylinder to see if it ha sa small amount of free play, but the most likely culprit could very well be your brake hoses, they have swelled up and will let fluid thru under pressure but won't let fluid come back to the master as return pressure isn't as great as application.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
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From: Austin
Hey Dave,
Our push rod was barely too long... it would slowly build pressure back up in
the system till the pedal was hard. It was not apparent that it was too long...just by 1/8 of an in. It took me a long while to figure it out.
Good luck over there. Post more dog pics when you get a chance. I've got a small cousin of your guys over here....
Ben in Austin
1950 F1
Our push rod was barely too long... it would slowly build pressure back up in
the system till the pedal was hard. It was not apparent that it was too long...just by 1/8 of an in. It took me a long while to figure it out.
Good luck over there. Post more dog pics when you get a chance. I've got a small cousin of your guys over here....
Ben in Austin
1950 F1
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Southern SC.
Thanks Ross, the spring is there. Will get under it tomorrow with it jacked up to check the push rod. The pedal was back to normal about 2 hours after I got it back home. I will check the soft hoses also. Ben this is for you. This is Sophie.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
It's the MC push rod. It is too long. Had the same thing happen to a 32 Ford I had years ago. Shortened the push rod and all was normal. The rod has to come back far enough to allow the fluid to return to the MC. If not, the pressure keeps building every time you step on the brakes. 
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From: Southern SC.
Thanks guys. I will let you all know as soon as I can get it up on stands and get this fat a$$ of mine under it. Best laid plans get messed up when ever I try to do something on it. Work is calling as a customer messed up a file late yesterday I need to fix and my wife just told me we have dinner plans — what’s a guy to do lol
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 19
From: Austin
Hey Dave,
Sophie is looking good! Our dog just got her Spring hair cut...
the high looks to be 35 degrees here today...she's not too happy with me.
Keep working on those brakes...it'll end up being something simple
after you've tried all the more complicated fixes....
Ben in Austin
1950 F1
Sophie is looking good! Our dog just got her Spring hair cut...
the high looks to be 35 degrees here today...she's not too happy with me.
Keep working on those brakes...it'll end up being something simple
after you've tried all the more complicated fixes....
Ben in Austin
1950 F1
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Southern SC.
Will do Ben. The girls are overdue for a clip. When it’s fixed I get to drive Miss Sophie and Miss Gracie. It’s the only way I’ll ever get two blondes in the backseat.
Here’s Miss Gracie.
Here’s Miss Gracie.
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,514
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From: W. Central FL.
If the brakes have been working correctly for years, up till now, I seriously doubt if the push rod has changed length and is a problem. Might be time to go thru the entire brake system on that vehicle if you can not verify it has been done recently. Any and all soft components are suspect as well as any old steel lines.
Wide temperature swings can cause condensation inside an unsealed brake system. And as we all know, condensation causes rust.
Wide temperature swings can cause condensation inside an unsealed brake system. And as we all know, condensation causes rust.